A late addition to the cast, Richard Schiff (“The West Wing”) has joined Zack Snyder’s Superman reboot, Man of Steel. Variety reports that Schiff will play “Doctor Hamilton”, almost certainly the Professor Emil Hamilton of the comics.

First appearing in “Adventures of Superman” #424 in 1987, Emil Hamilton has been portrayed as both an enemy and ally of Superman over the years. A scientific expert, Hamilton is often connected to S.T.A.R. Labs, a top-secret government research and development laboratory.

In recent years, Hamilton has been written as a villain in the comic book series, forming the alternate identity “Ruin” and setting out to destroy Clark Kent’s life.

Hamilton was a regular on the “Superman: The Animated Series” television show (pictured above) where he was voiced by Victor Brandt. More recently, he appeared on “Smallville”, played by Alessandro Juliani. Earlier in the series there was also a Dr. Steven Hamilton (played by Joe Morton) who is believed to have been inspired by the same character.